Envelop



(No Model.)

's. M. EDWARDS.

ENVELOP.

No. 595,806. Patented Dec. 21,1897.

fnuezzf/or E Ncnms PETERS 00.. Puumuma. WASHINGYON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAlWlUEL M. EDWARDS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ENVELO P.

SPECIFICATION forming. part of Letters Patent No. 595,806, dated December 21, 1897.

Application filed January 8, 1 89 7.

To aZZ whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL M EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Envelops, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an envelop having its ends so arranged that the envelop can be opened at either end without the use of instruments and without injury to the contents of the envelop, which are often mutilated in opening the ordinary envelop.

The especial feature of my invention is that I so fold the envelop that but a single thickness must be torn to open the envelop, and yet I provide a strip of double thickness whereby to tear such single thickness, thus avoiding all liability of the strip tearing or breaking in two before the envelop is fully opened.

My invention comprises the various features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a rear view of an envelop embodying my invention having one end partially opened. Fig. 2 is a view of the blank from which my improved envelop is manufactured. Fig. 3 is a fragmental sectional view of one end of the envelop, showing the manner of folding and cementing the end flaps to the back piece. Fig. 4 is a like view showing the end flap strengthened by a piece of strong paper or a strip of thin selvage.

My improved envelop is composed of a bodypiece A, having at each end thereof an end flap a, which projects beyond the body-piece, a back piece B, equal in width at its ends to the width of the body-piece and adapted to fold upon such body-piece, and a side or rear flap O, which is adapted to be mucilaged or cemented upon the back piece to close the envelop.

The back piece B is folded upon the bodypiece A, and, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, each flap a is folded inward once upon itself, the outer side of the free leaf of the fold covered with mucilage or other cement, and the flap again folded over upon the back piece and Serial No. 618,667. (No model.)

secured thereto by the previously-deposited cement.

When my invention is applied to envelops constructed of poor paper, such as Wood-pulp or inferior rag paper, it is desirable that the flap be strengthened at the ends by means of a strip of strong paper or thin selvage a, cemented upon each flap a. The flap is then folded upon itself and cemented to the back piece B by paste or mucilage. In practice the ends a of the strips, formed by folding the end flaps, are left uncemented, so that they may be easily lifted and grasped between the thumb and finger.

When it is desired to open an envelop, the loose end of the strip is grasped and is torn from the envelop, the double thickness of the paper causing the strip to tear freely from one side of the envelop to the other, the strip tearing at the extreme end of the envelop, where the flap connects with the envelopbody, giving a clean tear across the entire width of the envelop without any liability of injury to the contents thereof.

When the strengthening-strip a is used, it gives the double thickness, which insures that the strip will tear entirely across the end of the envelop without breaking off or tearing in two when the envelop is only partially opened.

It will be observed by my improved manner of folding that when the envelop is formed the strip which is torn off is composed of two thicknesses, excepting at the opening edge, which is the point'at the end of the envelop where there is only one thickness to tear and that thickness is the creased end of the envelop. Should the adhesion of the mucilage cause the under fold of the flap to tear in two before the envelop is fully opened, the upper fold will still remain intact and will continue the tear to the other side of the envelop.

By my improved construction the envelop need be made no longer than the ordinary envelop to accommodate the same size sheet.

It is to be understood that the flaps may be provided on the back piece and cemented to the body of the envelop, or that the tearing-strip may be provided on only one side or end of the envelop without departing from the spirit of my invention, which consists in so folding the envelop that but a single thickness is required to be torn to open the enwith an end flap; a back piece folded upon the body; a main flap adapted to fold upon the back piece; the end flap being folded twice upon itself and the inner fold being pasted or otherwise secured to the back piece, but having one end uncemented and free from the back piece to adapt it to be readily grasped by the fingers.

SAMUEL M. EDWARDS.

lVitnesses:

W. C. DURGIN,

W. B. SCARBOROUGH. 

